The BJP government in Karnataka has now stated that it will not entertain the proposal for a state flag. Minister for Kannada and Culture, CT Ravi told the media that the government has no intention of having a separate state flag.
“We can have a cultural flag, but Constitutionally we can have only one flag, which is the national flag or the tricolour. Hence, the government will not pursue the issue of a state flag,” CT Ravi said.
Reacting strongly to CT Ravi’s statement, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President Dinesh Gundu Rao said that the government’s decision was an insult to the self-respect of Kannadigas. “Upon the demand from various Pro-Kannada activists, a proposal for a separate state flag was sent to the Union government. Just to please certain people, it is not right to hurt the sentiments of Kannadigas,” Dinesh Gundu Rao said.
The separate state flag was a flagship project undertaken by former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. In May 2018, just a few days before the Karnataka Assembly Elections, Siddaramaiah had held a press conference and unveiled the design for the new state flag.
Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, too, called out CT Ravi on his statement and said that there is no Constitutional provision that bars a state from having a flag of its own.